Attack on Jailolo

Last updated
Attack on Jailolo
FMIB 43916 Celebes and Gilolo.jpeg
Map of Gilolo Island
DateLate November 1545
Location
Result Jailolo sultanate victory
Belligerents
Flag of Portugal (1521).svg Portuguese Empire
Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Spanish Empire
Bendera Ternate - Almulk Buldan Ternate.svg Sultanate of Ternate
Sultanate of Jailolo
Commanders and leaders
Flag of Portugal (1521).svg Fernao de Sousa de Tavora
Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Ruy López de Villalobos
Bendera Ternate - Almulk Buldan Ternate.svg Pati Sarang
Katarabumi
Strength
Flag of Portugal (1521).svg 300
Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg 100
Bendera Ternate - Almulk Buldan Ternate.svg 1,500
Unknown

The Attack on Jailolo was a military expedition launched by the combined force of Spanish-Portuguese and Ternatean armies to oust the ruler of Jailolo. The attack failed.

Contents

Background

In 1534, the new sultan of the Sultanate of Jailolo named Katarabumi took over. He had the previous sultan poisoned and died in a Portuguese hospital in Ternate. In his proclamation, Katarabumi said he would rule Jailolo on behalf of the Portuguese king. During his reign, he began attacking Ternatean territory in Jailolo and succeeded in expelling them; he also began attacking Moro Kingdom a Christianized kingdom, which led to suspicion of the Portuguese and did not expect an emerging power. [1]

Katarabumi's pro-Portuguese statements were just a ruse to cover up his attacks on Christian missionaries in the Moro kingdom. In 1536, He invaded the capital of the Moro kingdom, Mamuya. After a siege for a week, Katarabumi demanded the king Tioliza surrender in the next 24 hours. He also demanded the Portuguese guards surrender; the guards escaped the capital but were killed by locals. He then invaded Tolo, a village of 3,000 inhabitants supported by Portuguese soldiers, who resisted Katarabumi for a month before surrendering. [2]

Attack

Having done a lot of harm to the Portuguese, in late November 1545, [3] the Portuguese captain, Fernao de Sousa de Tavora, led an expedition of 300 Portuguese. They were joined by 100 Spanish troops led by Ruy López de Villalobos, and 1,500 Ternateans led by Pati Sarang. [4] [5] [6] The allied forces arrived at the fort of Jailolo and found it strongly fortified. [7] A ditch and a wooden palisade with towers of artillery arquebusiers enclosed the city. [8] The Allied forces launched an assault on the fort. However, the Jailoloans were prepared for the attack and repulsed them with heavy losses. [9] [10] The jailoloans also made repeated sorties against the enemy; [11] the fighting lasted for two days [12] or weeks. [13] The Portuguese commanders were divided among themselves, and some withdrew, which made them lift the siege. [14]

Aftermath

The Spanish and Portuguese forces retired and returned to Ternate, where Villalobos died. De Sousa afterwards went to India, accompanied by the remainder of the Spaniards. [15] The Jailoloans became overconfident at the victory, and Katarabumi sent caracoas to Ternate and Tidore to swindle the inhabitants. [16] The success of Katarabumi didn't last long; in 1550, a force of 180 Portuguese and 5,000 Ternateans successfully captured Jailolo. [17]

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References

  1. M. Adnan Amal, Kepulauan Rempah-rempah, p. 34
  2. M. Adnan Amal, p. 32-33
  3. Pieter Anton Tiele, De Europeërs in den maleischen archipel, p. 283
  4. Pieter Anton Tiele, p. 283
  5. Frederick Charles Danvers, The Portuguese In India Vol.1, p. 468
  6. Harry Kelsey, The First Circumnavigators, Unsung Heroes of the Age of Discovery, p. 96
  7. Frederick Charles Danvers, p. 468
  8. Harry Kelsey, p. 96
  9. Frederick Charles Danvers, p. 468
  10. Pieter Anton Tiele, p. 283
  11. Pieter Anton Tiele, p. 283
  12. Frederick Charles Danvers, p. 468
  13. Harry Kelsey, p. 96
  14. Pieter Anton Tiele, p. 283
  15. Frederick Charles Danvers, p. 468
  16. Pieter Anton Tiele, p. 283
  17. Frederick Charles Danvers, p. 493